Super Mario 64 DS

"Great game... but it's-a too hard to control."

Some will tell you that Super Mario 64 is the greatest 3D platformer of all time, and it may be true. If anything, it not only acted as the showcase game for the Nintendo 64, but also practically introduced the third dimension to games and gamers alike. Platformers themselves were not new when Super Mario 64 arrived on the scene in 1996, but the way they were handled was. Ever since Super Mario 64 gave us the idea of open, non-linear level designs that can be explored to the player's will, the concept has been copied countless times, to the point where there are very few platformers today that actually stick to the classic 2D rule of getting to the end of a level and then moving on to the next level. But more importantly, it was the biggest launch game for a system that made three-dimensional gaming a possibility, and for that, it deserves a place in our hearts.

I don't think Nintendo will ever make the mistake of launching one of its platforms with a Mario game again, after their pitiful error with Luigi's Mansion on GameCube. And so, rather than creating an entirely new Mario game for us to feast on, it instead decided to port the above-mentioned classic Super Mario 64 onto the new Nintendo DS for launch, under the title Super Mario 64 DS. It's certainly no replacement for a brand new Mario game, but seeing as how Mario 64 is one of the greatest games of all time, it's hard to go wrong. And, as expected, Mario 64 is just as fun on a handheld as it is on the N64… with one major flaw.

Now, in all honesty, as much as I love Mario 64, it's beginning to show its age. It's still a lot of fun to play, but after spending a lot of time on my N64 playing such platformers as Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64 and Conker's Bad Fur Day, it's a little tough to go back to Mario 64, which is beginning to feel inferior to such games. This is simply a matter of which games came later, and I'm perfectly aware of the fact that Mario 64 basically created 3D platformers as we know them, but I've never thought that it's a completely perfect game. It's still brilliant no matter how you look at it, but compared to some of the more recent platformers Mario 64 just isn't quite as fun, and several times while playing through Mario DS I couldn't help but wish I was playing a portable version of Banjo-Kazooie instead (which is, by the way, my favorite 3D platformer of all time).

But if anything, Mario DS is anything but “just a port.” The biggest new addition to this game's design is the option to play as one of four characters – Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi. As a matter of fact, you'll actually begin the game as Yoshi, and will have to play the game out as usual until you manage to find keys that can be used to unlock the three plumbers, who were apparently captured by Bowser. What makes it interesting is that each character has his own set of unique abilities. For instance, Yoshi can swallow enemies and breathe fire, while Mario has the ability to inflate himself and float to otherwise unreachable platforms. All of the game's original special abilities return, in some form or another. In addition to this, Nintendo went and made the entire game bigger and longer. Although there are no “real” new courses, there are plenty of new bonus levels that are either contain a star or one of the keys used to unlock Mario, Luigi, or Wario. To give you an idea of how much bigger the game is, there are now 150 stars to find, as opposed to the original's 120.

Nintendo went and did their best to take advantage of the DS's capabilities with this port. For one thing, Nintendo didn't want to leave the handheld's dual screens in the dust. All of the game's action takes place in the top screen, while the bottom screen is used to display a map of the area. The map is actually pretty fuzzy and not nearly as helpful as you might think, but it does reveal the locations of some important items, which can be useful. Also, you'll get the chance to unlock a few dozen all-new mini-games that can be played at your leisure. They all involve the touch screen in some way, and range from things such as rolling a snowball along an icy path, to drawing trampolines for Mario to bounce off of, to firing projectiles at targets from a slingshot. Most of them are pretty fun and provide some replay value.

Mario DS has, however, one glaring flaw that will go down through the ages: Control. Oh boy, is this a bummer. Super Mario 64 was the game that created analog control in videogames. What does that have to do with this? Well, DS doesn't have an analog stick, does it? No, of course not. I tell ya, playing Super Mario 64 with a d-pad would be like playing Super Monkey Ball with a mouse and keyboard – it doesn't work. At least, not very well. 3D platformers are all about precision control, and that can't be done with an eight-way d-pad. What's more, you have to hold the Y button to run. This is another ridiculous mistake, as if you want to get anywhere quickly, you'll have to holding the Y button all the time. And seeing as how Nintendo always assumes they've got everything right, they didn't implement an auto-dash feature. Shame on you.

Now, to be fair, this is really more a flaw in the DS's design than an in-game flaw, since the DS doesn't have an analog stick. Nintendo apparently realized this flaw and decided to implement a touch-screen analog setup. It works like this: By using the DS's included thumb strap, you can use the touch screen to move your character around with a round icon representing an analog stick. This setup is even worse. The analog icon appears wherever you place your thumb on the screen, and if you move your thumb off of the icon, it will follow. So, if you move your thumb so far as to hit the edge of the screen, you've got to reposition your thumb. It just doesn't work. And moving your character around with a touch screen is awkward enough to begin with. If Nintendo realized that not having analog control in Mario 64 was bad, they should have done the right thing and just fixed the DS's setup altogether.

And it's a shame, because the idea of having a portable Super Mario 64 is so great. I think it's all just a problem with the DS's lack of analog. Otherwise, Mario DS is still a great game, and with improved graphics, new areas and the addition of touch screen based mini-games, it really had a lot of potential.

Pros

+ It's a handheld version of Super Mario 64!
+ New characters add some variety to the design.
+ Plenty of new content for SM64 veterans.
+ Improved graphics and sound.
+ Tons of new touch screen-based mini-games.
+ All-new wireless multiplayer mode.

Cons

- Without analog, this game can control like a nightmare.
- Touch screen map really isn't very handy.
- Multiplayer is pretty boring.
- Super Mario 64 is beginning to show its age.

Overall: 8/10

Super Mario 64 DS is one of the DS's best launch titles without question, and the game it's based off of is still one of the greatest and most influential games of all time. And with three new characters and plenty of new content, including new areas and the inclusion of touch screen mini-games, this is definitely one that fans of the original will want to check out. Still, when it comes down to execution, this version of Super Mario 64 is lacking one of the key areas that made the original so famous: Analog control. You'll get used to moving around a 3D world with a d-pad, but it's a clunky, awkward transition that mars what would otherwise be a fantastic port. Still, if you've got a DS this is one you won't want to miss.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/02/05